# What's your putzing-around store? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 19, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239 "2017-02-19T18:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/21 "2017-02-19T23:19:14Z")
I google the nearest bar to wait out the time with a pint or 3. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/22 "2017-02-19T23:28:59Z")
Bookshops, of course, especially used bookshops. When I’m in another part of the U.S., I can enjoy grocery stores and supermarkets, just to see how the local tastes differ from those in my hometown. People in North Dakota seem to like their jar pepperoncini flavored with garlic and dill! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/23 "2017-02-19T23:30:52Z")
Fry’s Electronics ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/24 "2017-02-19T23:31:16Z")
Marijuana dispensaries. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/25 "2017-02-19T23:33:48Z")
I love to wander around in Antique Collectives. I already have way too many souvenirs, kitschy tchotchkes and gewgaws so I never buy anything–but I will take pictures of stuff that catches my eye. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/26 "2017-02-20T00:26:48Z")
I’ll go local. Buckdancer’s, a local music store, as in instruments. They let you play anything you want. there’s always an amp hooked up and you can just grab a guitar off the wall, sit down, plug in and make some noise. Or you can play a $3,000 Martin in the acoustic room. They do repairs, lessons, a guy who used to work there is producing my band’s EP … it’s a cool place. Bullmoose Music, a local music/book/movie/video game store. Actually, I’m not sure just how local it is. There are two locations that I know of. I don’t know how much of a franchise it is. ETA: I see \*\*CoastalMaineiac \*\*calls it a “Maine chain.” I’ll go with that. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/27 "2017-02-20T00:29:05Z")
First choice is any gun shop/tackle shop. Small mom&pop style more than say a Dick’s or Cabela’s. Second is Tractor Supply or possibly Harbor Freight depending on location. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/28 "2017-02-20T02:31:06Z")
Thirding Fry’s Electronics. You could lock me up in there for a year and I wouldn’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/29 "2017-02-20T02:37:08Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Used to be bookstores. But there are none left, at least around where I live, so I no longer do any putzing around in stores. You need to git yo’ bad se’f to a college town. They have used bookstores and used record stores and used cheapo clothing stores. I can get lost in any hardware store, but for the best putzing, I’m close to two **Half-Price Books**. I have to set an alarm before I walk in, because otherwise I’ll be an hour late for my next event. Due to the combination of new books, used books, comics, LPs/CDs/DVDs, games, audiobooks and [cue heavenly choir] Clearance Items. It’s a chain, with [120 stores…](https://www.hpb.com/all-stores-list) hope there’s one nearby. And you have a spare hour. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/30 "2017-02-20T02:54:14Z")
[Kittery Trading Post](http://KTP.com), a sporting goods store in Kittery Maine, about 10 minutes from home ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/31 "2017-02-20T03:09:43Z")
Bookstores, hands-down. Video/electronics stores after that, I suppose. After that, it’d have to be places selling something relatively novel. Skeletons, Scottish themed items, hardware salvage, military surplus, scientific supplies, movie props…anything I’m at least tangentially interested in, but can’t find normally or in high concentration in a regular department store. Things just haven’t been the same since The Nature Company went under. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/32 "2017-02-20T03:41:34Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > [Kittery Trading Post](http://KTP.com), a sporting goods store in Kittery Maine, about 10 minutes from home Bookmarked the site. Next time I run up towards Saco, I may just have to plan a side trip. The stock of frontstuffers isn’t the greatest but I have a Plan B for when I travel outside of my state. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/33 "2017-02-20T06:24:00Z")
Went to the movies today at a theater that requires me to get off the train in the station underneath Nordstrom, which was the perfect excuse to spend some time in the shoe department. That would be my #1 stop for just checking out the merchandise. #2 would be any of the 9000\* Walgreens located near my home or work. I have been known to take a meandering walk that lets me putz around in five different Walgreens on my way home. \*O.K., I admit this is an exaggeration. There are apparently only 17 Walgreens within my general vicinity. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/34 "2017-02-20T07:10:09Z")
T. J. Maxx and their Home Goods spinoff. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/35 "2017-02-20T07:26:58Z")
I can find something interesting in any store near me ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/36 "2017-02-20T07:33:18Z")
Ayers, a modern-day equivalent of a five & dime. [See for yourself.](https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8853015,-77.1408061,3a,75y,19.9h,80.14t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sFYbnIcOhmvhJnE0tRQu8iw!2e0!3e2!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/37 "2017-02-20T08:32:14Z")
Home supplies, be they high end or dollar store. Half an hour is barely enough time to enter it, but right now I work across from an IKEA… ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/38 "2017-02-20T10:00:36Z")
I’m rarely in this position because the only times I seem to just be hanging out in waiting mode is an airport or railway station. But if I’ve got time to kill before a show, I’ll hit up Foyles, since it’s one of the few places that’s open after 6pm that isn’t a pub or restaurant. Super rainy day with no plans but a bit of cabin fever, and don’t want to bother with the crush of museums and high street shops, I’ll hit up several second hand clothing stores in Notting Hill. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/39 "2017-02-20T10:18:38Z")
Foyles, for those who don’t know, is a British bookstore chain with seven stores. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239/40 "2017-02-20T12:00:17Z")
~Supermarkets (can’t help it, it’s a byproduct of working in the industry – gotta check out the competition) ~Kitchenware stores, especially wholesalers who sell direct to the industry like Restaurant Depot. ~Liquidation stores – they’re maybe a step or two above dollar stores and have an ever changing inventory. There’s one called the Job Lot which is roughly a mile from our house. I wander around there every so often if I don’t feel like driving anywhere. There’s a larger one a few miles away I’ll go to if I’m still feeling restless. ~ Any bookstore [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-putzing-around-store/780239.md?page=3)